1.   Although he has one home run, mostly he is taking pitches where they are pitched and driving the ball up the middle and sometimes to the left side.

2.   Alomar kept complaining from the dugout, after three warnings and even after the next batter had taken a pitch.

3.   As Valentine tries to identify a suitable second-place hitter behind Johnson, the need for someone who takes more pitches is heightened.

4.   At the top of the order, being patient and learning how to take pitches, how to set up the pitcher and make him throw you your pitch.

5.   Because two guys will take the quarterback and no one will take the pitch or vice versa.

6.   A batter can take those pitches for balls and still get on base.

7.   After rushing nine yards for a first down on his first carry, Taylor took a pitch and fumbled after being hit by linebacker Jessie Armstead.

8.   All of the above also took more pitches and walked more than Garciaparra.

9.   But his stealing opportunities were limited because Ivan Rodriguez, who batted behind him, hits as if taking a pitch would dishonor his family name.

10.   But Zimmerman soon found out that hitters were willing to take pitches, because they realized the slider was eventually coming.